Every party needs someeasy-to-eat cold appetizer finger foods! These no-cook recipes are perfect for parties as they often require less work for the hostess. Browse through all of these cold finger food ideas, you are sure to find some new favorites.
Hospitality Tip: It’s important to keep life’s business in perspective. When it boils down to one purpose in life, it all comes down to relationships. That is why I want to encourage you to focus on gathering with friends with a low-key attitude. I have some quick, no-bake appetizers that you can whip up and enjoy while spending time talking with friends. Make time for the ones we love.
With a few simple tips, you can make ahead and then safely serve cold appetizers.
❄️ How do you keep appetizers cold at a party?
1. There are a couple of ways you can keep cold foods cold when serving them for a party. First, serve them up on small platters. This requires a bit more work as you will need to refill more often, but since they’re sitting out for less time, they remain cold.
2. Dips and spreads can be served in insulated bowls, or you can place a bowl in the freezer prior to filling it to chill it. This helps to keep the dip colder for longer. I like using this stainless steel bowl nestled on an ice bowl set.
3. If the appetizers don’t have perishable ingredients such as fresh produce, you can stick them in the freezer for 15-30 minutes prior to serving to chill them. The goal isn’t to freeze them just to reduce the temperature to just above freezing.
Last, keep in mind that not everything needs to be cold, so consider which will be ok at room temperature and which really are best when super cold.
Menu Tips For Cold Party Appetizers
When planning a menu, the most popular types of cold appetizers include canapes, small bites that can be eaten using the fingers in one or two bites, dips, crudites, and cheeses.
I am sharing with you a list of my favorite cold appetizers that I know your friends and family will enjoy at your next party.
Keep these tips in mind when planning your party menu.
Select a variety of easy appetizers! You want to have different flavors, shapes, and textures.
Don’t forget to offer up a few items that are vegan or vegetarian for guests who don’t eat meat.
Plan the serving pieces ahead of time and how you will keep items cold.
What to Serve with Cold Party Foods
It’s perfectly all right to serve only cold appetizers, it makes party planning easier. Cold appetizers are perfect for a baby shower, cocktail party, to kick off a dinner party, or any gathering where people will be hanging out before a meal or having drinks.
However, if you would like to serve more than just cold party food I have some ideas for you.
Hot Appetizers: Unless you’re serving just a light spread of appetizers, such as before a meal or for a short period of time, you will likely want to include some hot items on the menu. Browse through these 43 Favorite Meatball Appetizers, and don’t forget your vegan friends. Make these vegan stuffed mushrooms for parties! Serve some Mexican-themed appetizers or these low-calorie appetizers. Oh, and don’t forget slow cooker Maryland Crab Dip, perfect for a party.
This collection of easy cold appetizers includes finger foods that don’t require any heat, can be eaten without a fork, and can be served either cold or at room temperature.
Cold Cheese Appetizers
Cheese makes an easy appetizer to serve for parties. There is a lot of variety and different combinations you can offer! They’re great added to platters, served up in a bowl, or skewered up on toothpicks.
Best Spicy Pimento Cheese Recipe
Spicy PImento Cheese is a classic Southern comfort food that you can make in just 15 minutes. This homemade spread has a sweet, spicy heat and a unique creamy texture that will keep you coming back for more.
A simple 5-ingredient party dip made with roasted red peppers and goat cheese. This tasty dip goes together in a flash but tastes like you spent hours on it!
This creamy concoction is one of the best cold dips to serve! Blended ricotta cheese, fresh garlic, lemon juice, and a handful of herbs make a winning dip your guests will love.
A simple appetizer that combines a stunning look with Classic Italian flavors of strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and cracked black pepper. The addition of cream cheese makes a creamy, tangy base for the strawberry topping.
Crostinis are one of everyone’s classic cold finger foods! Crispy homemade toasts are topped with a sweet, herb-filled creamy ricotta cheese. While the toasts need to be cooked, you can also use store bought toasts to skip the cooking. Full of rich creamy flavor, they're sure to be a crowd pleaser.
These easy marinated mozzarella balls are perfect to add to a cold charcuterie and cheese board. Fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil infuse the cheese with tons of flavor.
This homemade cheese ball recipe is the perfect appetizer for parties and holidays! Creamy cheese ball packed with cheese blends, bacon, ranch and walnuts.
The famous Masters Pimento Cheese Recipe is s traditional southern sandwich spread that has been served at the Augusta National golf tournament concession stands for over 50 years. It also makes a party dip that's sure to be a big hit!
Cold dips are great because they require less work than other dishes. Usually, you just need to mix them up and put them in a bowl. They go on the table with your favorite chips, some fresh veggies, or an assortment of crackers and breads.
Mexican Caviar Recipe
The perfect Mexican appetizer dip or salad for a party! Made with healthy ingredients including a variety of beans, tomatoes, chilies, fresh onions, cilantro, garlic then seasoned with cumin and lime.
This recipe is a healthy copycat version of the classic Lipton Onion Soup Dip Recipe without all the preservatives in the box mix. It takes less than 5 minutes to make this rich and creamy dip using everyday pantry staples and fresh sour cream.
Fresh apples, strawberries, and mint come together in this fresh apple salsa. No cook fruit salsa is perfect for serving at summer parties or backyard bbqs.
Succulent crab, cream cheese, green onions, and a handful of other simple ingredients is all you need to make a tasty crab dip for parties. It’s also flexible enough to use other types of seafood too!
Cauliflower Hummus has a creamy nutty flavor, with hints of roasted garlic, cumin, and sesame. It is a nutritious snack that is paleo, keto, and vegan.
Y'all are going to love this Boiled Peanut Hummus! A smooth, nutty flavor with a punch of lemon and garlic makes this a southern hummus boiled peanut recipe you will make again and again.
This easy black bean dip is a healthy appetizer to serve up for parties! It goes great with tortilla chips, crackers, or even veggie sticks. It has the perfect amount of spice, a bit of zing from the limes, and lots of earthy flavors.
Serving food up on a skewer or toothpick makes food easier to eat for your guests! They are a bit time-consuming to prepare so you might only want to offer one along with a variety of types of cold appetizers for your party.
Quick Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and a handful of simple herbs and spices infuse mozzarella balls with flavor. Add these antipasto skewers to a cheese board or grazing board for your guests to enjoy or you can skewer them for an easy passed appetizer.
Individual mini charcuterie cups make a tasty cold appetizer for parties. It’s easy to fill them with unique and fun combinations that wow party guests and fit your budget. This easy finger food recipe takes just 15 minutes to prepare!
Juicy melon and salty prosciutto make a winning combination for this skewered appetizer. It’s the perfect easy party appetizer for a dinner party or great cold appetizer for a cocktail party that's always a crowd pleaser.
Need a fun to make and fun to eat appetizer skewers? This easy cold appetizer on a stick is made with layers of Swiss cheese, ham, Dijon mustard, salami, and baby dill pickles.
These pasta salad skewers are the perfect answer to serving a salad for a cocktail party! Tortellini, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil are layered onto skewers for an easy to eat handheld appetizer.
Party appetizers need to be easy to eat and that’s where finger foods fit in perfectly. They generally don’t require a fork and can easily be eaten in one or two bites. Some may require a toothpick offered on the side.
Often they are simple recipes that you can easily prepare making them perfect for parties.
Green Marinated Sicilian Olives Recipe
Bring a little Sicily to your table with this delicious Green Marinated Sicilian Olives Recipe. The olives are infused with fresh herbs, garlic, dried oregano, a pinch of chili pepper for heat all smothered in extra virgin olive oil and white vinegar dressing.
Crispy phyllo cups are filled with hummus and an easy cucumber chopped salad for a great appetizer for parties and gatherings. They’re great to make up ahead of time and easy to change up the flavors if you want.
A cucumber appetizer topped with a creamy, flavorful avocado and goat cheese mixture. They’re perfect little bites for any party or get together. They’re also naturally vegetarian, low carb, keto, and gluten-free.
Crisp cucumber slices are topped with spicy creamy Buffalo chicken. An easy to make appetizer that’s a crowd pleasing veggie filled snack that’s perfect for parties and all types of gatherings.
Looking for a healthy cold appetizer for your party? Try these thick sliced cucumbers topped with hummus and a tomato. They’re so simple and easy to make! Plus they are suitable for a wide variety of diets.
Deviled eggs are a traditional favorite when it comes to cold appetizers! They’re the perfect finger food for so many different occasions and everyone always loves them.
Roll-ups are one of my favorite cold party appetizers! They’re the best cold appetizers that can be made ahead, perfect for groups both large and small, and usually a hit with guests. They may be made on a large flour tortilla, slices of meat, or other types of thin flatbread.
Cream Cheese Ham Roll Ups
These ham roll ups are a low carb appetizer everyone will love. Thinly sliced ham is layered with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and green onions. No cooking required and they take just minutes to make. A tasty appetizer you can easily prepare in advance so you can enjoy your party too!
A simple cold appetizer that’s easy to make for groups large and small. Use lavash bread for the base and top it with creamy cheese and crisp cucumbers. Great texture and flavor for a light and fresh appetizer that’s a great addition to any party menu.
Large flour tortillas are filled with a rainbow of fresh vegetables and a delicious, easy to make chickpea spread make a tasty cold appetizer that’s great to serve for parties.
A spicy version of Cream Cheese Pickle Roll-Ups thanks to the addition of pickled jalapenos. Crisp dill pickles are wrapped in pastrami, cream cheese and jalapeno for an easy pickle appetizer you can whip up for events from parties to potlucks.
Finger sandwiches are easy cold appetizers finger food that are a little more filling. The best part is they can be made before a party. This frees up your time when the party is about to start!
Learn all the tips you need to know about the best tea sandwiches to make ahead. These tips and recipes will save you time, and give you the opportunity to enjoy your party without a lot of fuss in the kitchen.
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